Hadron spectroscopy in diffractive and central production processes at COMPASS

COMPASS is a fixed‐target experiment using secondary high‐energetic hadron beams provided by the CERN SPS. In 2008 and 2009, a large amount of data has been collected with a 190 GeV∕c pion beam for the investigation of the hadron spectrum in diffractive and central production processes. A big variety of observed final states, including π−π+π−, π−π0π0, π−ηη, π−KsKs, π−K+K−, K−π+π−, and centrally produced 4π, is being analysed. The potential for systematic spectroscopic studies especially concerning the existence and nature of spin‐exotic, hybrid and glueball states is discussed. In addition, we show the first results from the data set collected with a proton beam in 2008. These data indicate the chance of COMPASS to contribute to the field of baryon spectroscopy.